A Cross-sectional Study of Patient Safety Culture in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India Using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture

Background: Patient safety is a significant component of healthcare quality. The first step in building a patient safety culture in any organization is to establish good practices. This research aims to gain an understanding of the patient safety culture at JSS Hospital and Research Centre and identify its strengths and areas for improvement in patient safety. Methodology: Our study was a cross-sectional study conducted from April to June 2024 at JSS Hospital, a tertiary-level teaching hospital. This study comprised a sample of 308 individuals, including medical staff, non-healthcare workers, and other healthcare professionals. The study employed the 10 safety culture variables from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Results: The majority of participants were Registered Nurses, comprising 75.6% ( n = 232) of the total respondents. A significant majority, 61.6% ( n = 189), reported having worked in the hospital for 11 years or more, indicating a well-experienced workforce with substantial institutional knowledge. Three areas were rated as strong, including feedback and communication about errors (77.8%), teamwork (77.2%), and hospital management support for patient safety (76.2%). Conclusion: The patient safety culture at JSS Hospital is robust in key domains, but requires targeted efforts to promote open communication and reporting. Sustained leadership commitment, ongoing evaluation, and staff empowerment are essential for advancing safer clinical practice in tertiary care hospitals.